30UNDER30’s Anny Benjamin on collaboration, memory and meaningful practice

Anny Benjamin, as founder and creative director of Studio ab, created a diverse perspective for design and creativity. As part of the 2025/2026 cohort of Australian Design Review‘s 30UNDER30, she reflects on community, collaboration and building a meaningful design practice.

Australian Design Review: Why did you enter the 30UNDER30 program?

Anny Benjamin: I entered the program because I’m drawn to spaces where growth happens through dialogue, reflection and shared experience. Over the past couple of years, building my own studio has been incredibly rewarding, but it has also highlighted the importance of community within our industry. Design can often feel like an individual pursuit, but the most meaningful progress happens collectively. The opportunity to learn alongside peers from different disciplines, while being guided by mentors who have navigated similar paths, is incredibly valuable to me.

30UNDER30 represents more than recognition; it represents a commitment to learning, generosity and long-term thinking. I entered because I’m interested in growing as well as developing my own practice further, contributing to a culture of collaboration, curiosity and shared knowledge within the design industry.

*Project in Northcote. Photo: Supplied.*

What do you hope to get out of the program?

What excites me most is the opportunity to deepen how I think about design, leadership and practice. Running a studio teaches you independence very quickly, but it also reveals the limits of thinking in isolation. I’m really interested in the kind of growth that happens through conversation; when ideas are challenged, expanded and refined through different perspectives. I’m particularly looking forward to learning from mentors who have navigated the complexities of building meaningful careers in design. Their insight, experience and guidance will be invaluable. Equally, I hope to build relationships with the other members of the cohort. I’m interested in forming connections that extend beyond the program itself.

What do you think you personally are able to bring to the program?

I bring a deep curiosity about people, spaces and the stories that sit beneath the surface. My practice is grounded in listening and observation. I’m interested in how design can translate memory, emotion and identity into spaces that feel authentic and enduring. I hope to contribute a thoughtful perspective, a willingness to ask deeper questions, and a collaborative spirit that encourages dialogue and connection within the cohort.

Do you remember your first encounter with design?

I didn’t grow up around design in the traditional sense, but I was surrounded by creativity. My grandmother sewed, my family repaired things rather than replacing them, and objects often carried stories. There was a strong sense of care for the things we owned, what they meant, where they came from and how they were used. Looking back, those experiences shaped how I see design today. Before I understood design as a profession, I learned to notice how spaces make people feel, how materials age over time, and how memory can live within objects and environments. That sensitivity to story and materiality continues to guide my work today.

What guiding values drive you and what kind of impact do you hope to make through your work?

The values that guide my work are curiosity, integrity and generosity. I’m interested in design that moves beyond aesthetics to create spaces that feel meaningful and lasting. As an Egyptian-Australian and the daughter of immigrants, I’m also deeply aware of the richness that diverse perspectives bring to design. Our industry becomes stronger when it reflects the multiplicity of voices and experiences that shape our communities. Ultimately, I hope my work contributes to a design culture that values depth, care and collaboration where spaces are created not just to be seen, but to be lived in and remembered.

Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30 is brought to you by major sponsor Neolith, alongside partners Designer Rugs, Laufen, Krost, Miele, Signature Appliances powered by Miele and Tongue & Groove.